He’s got the look: Joe Kennedy III announces he's running for Congress... so will it herald the dawn of a new Camelot?

Camelot comeback: On the campaign trail in Massachusetts, Joe Kennedy III, grandson of Robert Kennedy has proved he shares more than just a name with his famous relatives

On the campaign trail in Massachusetts, Joe Kennedy III, grandson of Robert Kennedy and son of former representative Joe Kennedy II,proved he shares more than just a name with his famous relatives.

The 31-year-old demonstrated the Kennedy charisma, looking confident in the middle of a media scrum, flashing the wide grin of his forefathers as he greeted his supporters.

He bears a strong resemblance to his grandfather and shares a similar wavy side parting to his great-uncles, as well as a strong jaw and dimples.

Wearing a blue suit, similar to one worn by John F, Kennedy, Joe Kennnedy III has recently announced that he plans to run for a Massachusetts House seat being vacated by Representative Barney Frank
(D).

It is barely a year since the world's most famous political dynasty severed their last ties with Washington, with the retirement of Patrick Kennedy.

In a YouTube video announcing his bid for Washington, Kennedy said: 'Congressman Frank has done so much for Massachusetts and America during his service in Congress and he leaves very big shoes to fill.

'I believe this country was founded
on a simple idea: that every person deserves to be treated fairly, by
each other and by their government.'

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The
2-minute, 50-second film gives voters a taste of Kennedy’s priorities
-rebuilding infrastructure, a '21st century energy economy' and easing
the middle class tax burden.

Kennedy
said: 'You can always count on me to fight for small businesses,
seniors, veterans and for you, to make sure you get the constituent
service you’ve come to expect.'

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Striking similarities: The 31-year-old demonstrated the Kennedy charisma, looking confident in the middle of a media scrum, flashing the wide grin of his forefathers when meeting supporters

All eyes on him: Joseph Kennedy III, the son of US Congressman Joseph Patrick Kennedy II and the grandson of former US Senator and US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, greets supporters and media in Newton, Massachusetts

Gathering support: Kennedy will run for the Massachusetts House seat being vacated by Representative Barney Frank (D) and told reporters 'You've got to earn it,' after greeting commuters at a train station in Newton

Human touch: Kennedy smiled throughout his tour, acknowledging that name alone will not assure him electoral success

High-five to success: The third generation politician was previously working as a prosecutor and before that as an assistant district attorney in Massachusetts. He has also spent time in the Peace Corps

WHO IS JOE KENNEDY III?

The would-be politician is the son of Congressman Joe Kennedy II and grandson of former US Attorney General Robert Kennedy

He studied industrial engineering at Stanford before attending Harvard Law School

Kennedy worked in his uncle's JFK's organisation, the Peace Corp in the Dominican Republic for two years before going into law

He worked as a prosecutor and assistant DA in two Massachusetts Districts for just over two years, before resigning last month

Kennedy is engaged to Lauren Birchfield who also went to Harvard Law School and has a non-identical twin brother Matthew Kennedy

He is a keen lacrosse player and captained Stanford's team

The third generation politician was
previously working as a prosecutor and before that as an assistant
district attorney in Massachusetts. He has also spent time in the Peace
Corps.

The political blue-blood uses the film to embrace his
family's legacy in Massachusetts while also acknowledging that name
alone will not assure him electoral success.

'You've got to earn it,' Kennedy told
reporters after greeting commuters at a train station in Newton, the
first of several stops the Democrat planned to make in the reconfigured
4th Congressional District. 'You've got to go out every day and talk to
people, listen to their concerns, shake more hands, knock on more doors,
take more phone calls.'

The Harvard Law School-graduate has meanwhile set up home in the district and today begins a flesh-pressing tour of the largely blue-collar communities of Milford, Attleboro, Taunton and Westport, the Boston Herald reported.

The first stop was on largely
friendly ground in the upscale Boston suburb. The redheaded son of
former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II and grandson of the late Robert F.
Kennedy frequently flashed a trademark Kennedy-esque grin as he strode
along the train platform and chatted up riders waiting for inbound
trolleys to the city.

'We've got a long way to go,' he told
one man who then remarked that a friend knew one of Kennedy's uncles, a
nod to the many personal and political connections Massachusetts voters
still have toward the family.

'He's a Kennedy - no coat,' pointed
out one older supporter who wore a Kennedy sticker. John F. Kennedy
famously doffed his overcoat on a bitterly cold day during inauguration
ceremonies in Washington, D.C., in 1961. The late president's
great-nephew wore a dark blue suit and tie on a chilly but not
unseasonably cold morning more than half a century later.

In questioning Kennedy pointed to his experience volunteering in the Dominican republic with the Peace Corps as well as his work as a prosecutor as evidence of his concern
for the disenfranchised.

'I think I've had an opportunity over
the course of my life to see what happens to people who are playing
against a stacked deck,' he said.

The spot as an assistant DA has been a launching pad for a number of Bay State politicians. Uncle Ted also launched his career from that role.

Camelot comeback: Joe Kennedy III officially announced his entry into politics with a You Tube video

Civil-minded: The new video shows Kennedy helping seniors and meeting members of the community

Early Ambition: Other shots showed the would-be Congressman serving in the Peace Corps

In touch: Kennedy pointed to his experience in the Peace Corps as evidence of his concern for the disenfranchised

Despite
his rich bloodline, Kennedy will face competition in the Democratic
primary. Businessman Paul Heroux, software engineer Herb Robinson, and
sociologist Jack Porter are also running, according to the Post. For now
Kennedy, who is already gaining union support, is the favourite .

Frank said that he thought Kennedy
had a good chance of winning the seat. 'I am very impressed with him,'
he told the Washington Post. 'I’m very enthused about Joe. I think he’s
going to win'

Kennedy's official announcement was largely a foregone conclusion after he said last month that he was forming an exploratory committee to run for the seat. He later resigned his job as a prosecutor in Middlesex County and moved from Cambridge, outside the 4th district, to Brookline, within the district.

While the Kennedy name remains a powerful force in the state, Republicans are quick to point to U.S. Senator Scott Brown's surprising victory over Democrat Martha Coakley in the special election that followed Ted Kennedy's death in 2009.

Edward Kennedy had held the seat for nearly a half century, and John F. Kennedy had held it before his brother. The Republican Brown carried several of the communities in the 4th district in the special election.

Like father like son: Joe Kennedy III (left) is following his father, former congressman Joe Kennedy II, pictured here endorsing Democratic Senate nominee Martha Coakley last year, into elected office

'I just think the Kennedy name is not
enough to elect somebody,' said Mary Thomits, a retired teacher from
Brookline who said she 'shocked' Kennedy when he introduced himself to
her Thursday at a diner near the transit station by telling him that she
did not think he was qualified to run.

Thomits, who said she was an
independent but planned to vote for Bielat, said she was turned off by
the fact that Kennedy was being opportunistic by changing his residence
to run in the district. 'I think he's just riding on his name,' she
said.

But Mike Grossman, a 56-year-old
Newton resident, said he welcomed Kennedy's candidacy. Though an
independent who had voted for Republicans in the past, Grossman said the
Kennedy family had a 'legacy' that was positive for the state.

Kennedy said he was proud of his
family's long record of public service, but his only specific reference
to a family member during his first campaign exchange with reporters
came on a question about the current partisan deadlock in Washington. He
remarked that Edward Kennedy, while being known as a 'liberal lion,'
was also able to reach across the aisle and forge strong working
relationships with Republicans.

Three of a kind: The Kennedy brothers had a major impact on American politics. Here John F. Kennedy, left, Robert Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy, right, stand together in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts

Kennedy Compound: It was once the home of Joseph P. Kennedy, Senior, his wife Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, and two of their sons, U.S. President John F. Kennedy and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy. It was Ted Kennedy's main residence from 1982 until his death in 2009. It could be transformed into an education center and museum

'One of his best friends in the Senate was (Utah Republican) Orrin Hatch,' he said.

Kennedy's twin brother Matt has already
joined the family business having worked on the late Senator Ted Kennedy’s
final reelection campaign.

Joe Kennedy II is also being touted to
make a return to political life. After retiring from Congress in 1999 he
has steered clear of running – opting instead to stay as CEO of
non-profit company Citizens Energy.

But
his zest for the spotlight has showed itself with numerous appearances
in TV commercials and, if the 59-year-old went for it, friends reckon he
could win the race to be Governor of Massachusetts after Deval Patrick
leaves.

And then there’s the youngest members of the Kennedy pack to have a place in the public’s consciousness.

Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s offspring could one day make a challenge for votes.

At
22, Katherine Schwarzenegger has already penned a book, while her
18-year-old brother Patrick possesses a precocious entrepreneurial nous.

Both have the poll-winning telegenic good looks of their great uncle - a certain former Mr President.

Heirs to the Kennedy throne? Maria Shriver, daughter of statesman Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and her daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger walking last month in West Hollywood, California. Katherine, 21, could be part of a new Camelot